The bar has been raised for the Tarbut V' Torah High baseball team this season.

After winning the Express League last season the Lions have been moved up this year to the San Joaquin League and hope to battle Capistrano Valley Christian for the top spot.

Tarbut V' Torah Coach Brent Dohling said his team is excited about the opportunity to move up.

"We know the competition is going to be better," said Dohling, whose team lost in the first round of the CIF playoffs last year.

Dowling wants the Lions to "play every inning and every pitch like it's the seventh inning of every game."

Dohling's entire roster returns from last season's playoff team and he is anticipating big seasons from Express League 2012 MVP Gabe Katz (.500 BA and 26 RBI), Ryan Maister (27 RBIs and 22 stolen bases), Ari Mandell (26 runs) and Caymian Gordon (.365 BA and 25 RBIs). TVT sported a team batting average of .335 last season with an on base percentage of .487.

The Lions have a lot team speed. Last year, they stole 144 bases in 19 games last season.

"We run a lot and we work on it a lot; it's one of our strengths," said Dohling.

The Lions pitching staff is poised for a big season as well: Maister, a 6-3 first team all-league player last season, is the Lions' ace and is a Division I college prospect "with a live arm," said Dohling.

Corona del Mar transfer Matt Riese, will also be counted to take the mound for the Lions once he becomes eligible on April 1. Gabe Katz will also be a key TVT hurler who is bidding for the No. 2 spot on the hill. He will likely serve as the Lions closer along will Noah Katz, Ari Zwiren and Gordon.

TVT has a competitive preseason schedule but the Lions will face CIF Division VI finalist Capistrano Valley Christian right out of the gate in their first league game March 15.

"Our goal is to go and win in all three seasons – preseason, league and playoffs," said Dohling. "It's what we preached last year and we had a pretty darn good season."

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